Philip Merling Article

I think it will be interesting if Merling and Malcolm Kelly are both available at #21. What to do then?

Definitely Merling. For me there is no elite, must-have WR in the 1st round. This isn't to say Merling is a must-have, elite either. Ideally we trade out of that #21 slot and pick up more picks later.

Just saying I'd rather have Merling in the 1st then take a WR even in the 3rd round (Bennett? Caldwell?), than take Kelly in the 1st then take a DE later.

EDIT: Didn't realize I essentially said the same thing celt did

I would trade this pick for one extra 2 as long as the 1st 2 was a high one. Atlanta & KC fit the bill with multiple picks in round 2 but those are teams that need a lot of bodies and may not be interested in a trade up.

If I have to stay at 21 and had those 2 on the board I think Merling is probably the better choice and we could come back with a WR in round 2 or 3. I am just betting the WR depth will be better in rounds 2 & 3 then the DL depth will be.

I like the idea of trading with KC and getting their 2nd and 3rd round picks.

I think it will be interesting if Merling and Malcolm Kelly are both available at #21. What to do then?
Merling. Or move down a few spots, get an extra pick and pick up Lawrence Jackson, DE from USC

I think it will be interesting if Merling and Malcolm Kelly are both available at #21. What to do then?

pass on kelly with the slow running and the terrible knees for the bigger impact position which is also a harder need to fill.

I think it will be interesting if Merling and Malcolm Kelly are both available at #21. What to do then?Merling without question. It's much easier to find impact WRs after the 1st round than impact DE's. Regarding Kelly, I think that he'll be an excellent pro also, despite slower 40 times. As I said earlier, look at the tape - it doesn't lie.

"At least 11 other teams had representatives in attendance: Baltimore, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Miami, Green Bay, Carolina, New York Jets, New York Giants, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay."

That bodes well for us gettting a chance to select Merling at 21. The only team on that list that worries me is Tampa Bay, as they could be dreaming of pairing Adams and Merling together in back to back years. However other then that as long as Brown remains an idiot and Bidwill follows suit then we'll be in good position to take Merling at 21 on draft day.

Does anyone else find it odd how public the Redskins are being about their interest in Merling and Kelly? Flying in Snyder, etc. When they wanted Campbell back in 2005 they flew in a contingent secretly. Now word got out nonetheless, but it just doesn't seem to fit the pattern of this regime to be so obvious in their desires? Is that indicative of a change of strategy with Gibbs gone and Vinny in the lead or does it smell of subterfuge?

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Posted at 3:56 PM ET, 04/24/2008
En Route To Oklahoma (UPDATED - And JC Is Rolling With Them)

So the Skins hearty contingent, including the owner and vp of football ops and head coach, has indeed left Clemson, where DE Phillip Merling worked out, and should be working out Malcolm Kelly shortly, the WR prospect.

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

As for Merling, spoke to some people down there at the workout. The kid is working through sports hernia surgery - no small deal - but went hard for 45 minutes, I am told. He was out there by himself and showed very well. About half the league had a representative there, but the Skins large contingent certainly drew ample attention.

Merling is tough as nails, and took a needle to the groin every Saturday just to be ablel to get on the field with Clemson, gutting through the hernia (the injury caused him to miss the physical part of the combine, and thus he held his workout today, on the last possible day). Scouts I talk to say he has strong character and is very stout at the point of attack ("He's not going to get outflanked," one said). He does not project to be a big sack guy, but could be a beast against the run (and considering what the Skins are looking for on the strong side, he sounds like a younger Phillip Daniels, with better upside). Could be good for a handful of sacks as well.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

Also, another name to watch on the second day of the draft is San Diego QB Josh Johnson, sources said. Johnson had a very good visit to Redskins Park and has been in touch with coach Jim Zorn, team sources said. He may not last until the 4th round, and that's a bit higher than where the Skins would probably like to take a QB given he would be a project and behind Campbell and Todd Collins for a while, but it's certainly worth watching with Zorn so closely tied to the QB position.

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Posted at 3:56 PM ET, 04/24/2008
En Route To Oklahoma (UPDATED - And JC Is Rolling With Them)

So the Skins hearty contingent, including the owner and vp of football ops and head coach, has indeed left Clemson, where DE Phillip Merling worked out, and should be working out Malcolm Kelly shortly, the WR prospect.

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

As for Merling, spoke to some people down there at the workout. The kid is working through sports hernia surgery - no small deal - but went hard for 45 minutes, I am told. He was out there by himself and showed very well. About half the league had a representative there, but the Skins large contingent certainly drew ample attention.

Merling is tough as nails, and took a needle to the groin every Saturday just to be ablel to get on the field with Clemson, gutting through the hernia (the injury caused him to miss the physical part of the combine, and thus he held his workout today, on the last possible day). Scouts I talk to say he has strong character and is very stout at the point of attack ("He's not going to get outflanked," one said). He does not project to be a big sack guy, but could be a beast against the run (and considering what the Skins are looking for on the strong side, he sounds like a younger Phillip Daniels, with better upside). Could be good for a handful of sacks as well.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

Also, another name to watch on the second day of the draft is San Diego QB Josh Johnson, sources said. Johnson had a very good visit to Redskins Park and has been in touch with coach Jim Zorn, team sources said. He may not last until the 4th round, and that's a bit higher than where the Skins would probably like to take a QB given he would be a project and behind Campbell and Todd Collins for a while, but it's certainly worth watching with Zorn so closely tied to the QB position.

Sounds like Merling would be a nice compliment to Carter at the DE position.

I think he's all but a lock to be our pick at #21. I think he'll probably be there when we pick and if he is, unless some great offer comes along we're taking Merling at 21.